Parents teach...children learns...

LEGAL DISCLAIMER : The post below are just meant for laughs...it doesn't represent my parents in any way...I don't think my parents will hang me for putting this up...if I'm lucky, they'll get a good laugh out of it...if not, God have mercy...

1. Parents teach their children RELIGION .
“You better pray that my car can be fixed or else someone's gonna get hurt real bad...”...I jammed my dad's car into a side wall...back seat doors was crushed as a result...

2. Parents teach their children LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that’s why...”

3. Parents teach MORE LOGIC...
"I've had eaten more salt than you've eaten rice, how dare you question me??!!"...a Chinese saying which means that the parent have had more life experiences than the child, and we should always trust without question whatever they say/do...that's a tyrannic act, I'd think...

4. Parents teach their children FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you gotta 'blueprint' of what you're planning to study...where your funds come from?...what are you going to do after your degree?...how long will it take??...etc, etc"...when I was a fresh naive 17 year old, give me a break, will ya!!!...jeez, at that time, the only source of funds I knew was from my PapaMama foundation...

5. Parents teach their children IRONY.
“Keep crying, gal and I’ll give you something more to cry about...you see this cane??”

6. Parents teach their children about the science of OSMOSIS .
“Don't talk with your mouth full and eat your supper.”

7. Parents teach their children about CONTORTIONIST.
“Will you look at that stain on your t-shirt??...I just bleached it yesterday...”

8. Parents teach their children about STAMINA and CONCENTRATION...
“Don't even think of movin' from your chair til' you've finished those veggies and your rice...”

9. Parents teach their children about WEATHER .
“This room of yours looks as if a lightning storm, blizzard, flood, and tornado went through it...all at the same time!!!...”

10 Parents teach their children about HYPOCRISY .
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. And don’t exaggerate!”

11. Parents teach their children about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .
“Man, now you're starting to sound and act like your father/mother!!”

12. Parents teach their childrenabout ENVY.
“There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who can't afford a decent meal at home...now eat your Maggi mee...”

13. Parents teach their children about ANTICIPATION.
“Just you wait until we get home...you're gonna get the best thrashing you've ever had..”

14. Parents teach their children about RECEIVING .
“You are going to get it from me when you get home...just you wait...(refer to Nu. 13)..."

15. Parents teach their children GENETICS.
“You got that crooked nose from your father...your drama skills from your grandmother...sadly, you didn't get inherit any bargaining skills from your mother...”

16. Parents teach their children WISDOM.
“It's too complicated to explain to you now...When you get to be my age, you’ll understand...”

17. Parents teach their children about JUSTICE .
“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out to be a pain just like you..."

He says, she says...

• Twas one night when her gear box wouldn't work...
• Though she floored the clutch, it wouldn't go in gear...
• She calls the mechanic...
• Gear box would work only when the engine is off...not on...
• You would have to drive the car to my place for a check-up...
• I doesn't know how to drive a car, whose gear box doesn't work...
• Its possible, but the roads must be clear or of light traffic to avoid any possible accidents...something like a jumpstart, the only catch is that you cannot stop the car AT ALL, till you has reached your destination...
• I am in Seri Kembangan...
• coincidentally Seri Kembangan is a suburb that never sleeps...NEVER...
• the other alternative is for you to come to my shop, and take me to your car cz I don't know the way...
• I will try....

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• She manages to get a friend who would so kindly take her to the mechanic...
• thank you...
• no problem...
• Oops...
• What??
• I accidentally left my car keys in the car...could you turn back??
• no problem...
• and he U-turns...
• Yikes
• What??
• I just remembered I locked the car door before leaving...with my car keys INSIDE the car...
• no problem...
• and he U-turns...again...
  
• crap, I also left my house keys all locked in the car...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• She reaches the mechanic shop and called the mechanic...
• I will follow you and your friend in another car...
• okay...
• Upon reaching Seri Kembangan once more, he tries to open her locked door...successful...
• thank God, no trouble there...
• her car keys and house keys retrieved...
• nothing wrong with your car...
• What the h-ll??
• gear-box is fine...
• no way
• She insisted on test drive...everything is fine...
• car sounds slightly sluggish for a certain reason, best to take it back to my shop...
• crap...she needed the car for work the next day...but never mind...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• The mechanic has gone back home...the assistant drove her car...
• He was a friendly guy and they had a short chat on the way back to the shop...
• She was sharing about how stupid things went, with her leaving her car keys behind, etc...
• They reach the shop safely...
  
• thank you...
• no problem...
• He stops short and slaps his forehead...
• what?
• crap...
• why?
• I left the store keys in my car...
• So? Go get it from your car...what is the big deal?
• I locked my car...
  
• And?
• My car keys is inside the shop that is locked...and the keys that open the locks of the shop is in my car that is locked...
• ....................

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That was Lady Luck playing a joke on us...

I just got dumped...

Yeah, I did...the title says it all...dumped like an unwanted rag doll...left in the shivering cold...uncertainties like beyond me...am looking for the strength that I don't have...to move on to a...

HAPPIER YEAR 2010!!!!....

Yup, you read me right...and no, I have not lost my marbles...

I HAVE just been dumped...dumped and abandoned by one of my private students...that means a certain amount of pay-cut...which means I will have to find some other means that can compensate, so my debts will not mount up...

Hang on...let me break out the champagne and bring on some party girls!!!...This is worth a dozen celebrations, oh...would you believe it...I just got dumped...

Erm...no, I am not delusional nor hysteria...euphoric would be a much better word...*sigh*...such blissfulness...

This student has been such a pain since I first taught her close to a year ago...I don't blame her, though...I blame her parents...I have never in my life come across such disrespectful child that I dearly love to slap...till now...and am at a lost when I come to handling her...so far, in my experience as a her instructor;...

• she lifted up her leg to my nose, while talking to me...
• told me that she hated me, for not "playing" with her and for "giving me hard songs" as her previous instructor did...not understanding that it was due to that, that resulted in her not being able to read a single note despite learning the piano for 2 years...
• spit at my face...
• hid my handphone and house-keys, only to return them an hour later...
• hit me, when I asked her to correct a mistake...
• with all her strength, refused to count even when I have written out answers for her...
• told me to smell her socks, if I wanted her to learn a new song...

And the list is never-ending...

Sometimes, I wonder...how in the world have I managed to endure all these things for an entire year??...I am sure many of you may ask, why do I even bother at all??...surely it isn't worth the RM100/month that I am charging...teaching an hour a week...with her mum forgetting classes all the time, only to let me know when I was standing outside their house for close to 10 minutes...

Yeah, I ask myself that too...all the time...

I guess it has a lot to do with my inner good, I guess...despite her spoilt ways, I have always felt sorry that her music journey has always come to a "touch-and-go" cross-road...that in her 2 years of music learning, she has learned from 5 teachers, one after another...I am the unlucky nu.6...not one teacher stayed with her longer than a couple of months...which is rather sad, if you come to think of it...

And in the short span of time that I've been teaching, I have always believed that nobody should get left behind...that everyone deserves a chance to be exposed to music...and this student of mine applies as well...I do not plan to be known as "The teacher who gave up on me"...though I must admit that I toyed with that fantasy in my mind several times....I still choose to believe that there is some good in her...that she is a diamond in the rough...just needing time to make a few adjustments...Also, Id rather I be dumped than her...at least I can tell myself that I've tried my very best to the end of that race...

Her mum decided to end my service due to the fact that "my daughter is consumed by tuition homework"...I, on the other hand, know that my service was terminated because I couldn't produce the same result as I have with her niece...whose progress has escalated since I took over...from simple songs to Bach inventions in less than a year...

What she didn't know that unlike her niece, who is able to handle my frustrations and petty scoldings...and practices almost everyday...her daughter pouts and shows a thundering face, even at the slightest change of my voice...shows a tantrum when I try reasoning with her...and screams at the top of her lungs when I have come to the end of patience and tells her firmly not to play anymore...only to see her mum smile with the devoted "Oh,-you-can't-imagine-how-cute-she-looks-when-she-is-crying" face...

And of course, her daughter never practices...oh, she plays the piano occasionally...but just those "Mary-had-a-little-lambs" and sorts...never moving forward...nor bothering too...

Am I happier now than I was before??...Yes, because unlike before, I don't feel as if my energy has depleted even before I start...I look forward to my day with a big-pearly-white smile, because I know that I no longer have double standards...and can teach with a clear conscience...though sometimes, I still feel the hurt...disappointment...that this girl has stopped lessons...hence her musical journey comes to a halt...

I can only hope that she will show her new music instructor (God bless that woman/man) more respect than she has to me...and whoever she/he is, I also hope that she/he is more resistant to verbal abuse than I...

Now, if you'll excuse me...I am going to Genting Highlands to celebrate this momentous occasion...*winks*...

The Parody of the Mistaken Father...

One day, a man came home from work and his children ran to him, calling out...

"Father, father...you're back!!"....

His neighbour who was working on the garden next door overheard this and got really upset...He spoke to the man..."Can you please tell your children to stop calling you "Father???"

Surprised, the man asked, "But why??"

The neighbour retorted, "Because my children calls me "Father" as well...They might get confused and mistaken you to be their father..."

If you're looking for more ridiculous laugh-lines, you might want to read this...

My motherland of stolen engines and missing truths...

If you noticed, I've not blogged much about Malaysia and its idiosyncratic government for quite a while now...If anything, I have successfully resisted from reading the daily newspaper, opting to do some research from good ol' www.google.com...and instead of indulging in nonsense of that sort and writing mournful posts that sometimes does sent me down in the dumps, I have chosen to occupy my time with things more worthwhile...it did work for a coupla months...

But I could not turn deaf ears on a recent article...well, not so recent, actually...it came out mid-December last year ('09)...I just got myself thinking about it these couple of days...Sherlock Holmes and Watson would have loved sniffing about this mystery...The case of the Missing Jet Engines...

Do allow me to outline the events that lead to this news...

• four F-5E Tiger II fighters and two RF-5E Tigereye reconnaissance jets were part of the air force's 12th Squadron's (Scorpion) fighter planes back at the Butterworth (Penang) air base...
• The still operational engines of these six 5Es were transported in military containers to Sungai Besi (Kuala Lumpur) for routine maintenance...Jet engines were stored in Sungai Besi warehouse, while service and maintenance records were kept in a safe in an office in the base...
  
• Year 2007 : TWO jet engines was discovered missing after an auditing was done...service and maintenance records can't be found...it is also reported that other equipments have gone astray the same year...
  
• Early 2008 : Police report was made...or so they say...
• Dec 2009 : Matter came to the attention of the media and public...

* Ah well, this is after all the average speed things run here in my motherland...2 YEARS...before an investigation is instigated...*

Sources are from Asiaone...

I'm sure every Malaysian citizen has several questions on their mind...

• Why no security checks, details and paperwork?
• How was the safe broken into?
• What are the 'other equipments' that are missing? Why aren't they brought to light?
• How were those two engines (collectively worth RM100 million/ USD30 million) stolen in broad day light and how did they get transported without getting noticed?
• If it was stolen, how come legal and official documents pertaining sales and shipping of engines are found?
• Does anyone else besides me that suspects a large cover-up/work of corruption?
  

....and the list never stops...

"It is not easy to just cart away [jet] engines without authorization and proper documents," so says Malaysia's Police Chief Musa Hassan...

Unfortunately, I think he is being contradicted by facts...

One being...our Police Chief announcing that three low-ranking airmen and a company agent were the ONLY ones involved...

Yeah, and you expect me to buy that...pitiful low-ranking men looking to make a penny or two more...puts its life on the line...wrap their ever-so-muscular arms around the engine...and waltzes away with it...AND...they succeed...not once...but TWICE...all these happening...under the watchful hawk-eyed high ranking officers...

Breathtaking, isn't it??...In fact, I would say that it is almost laughable...if it weren't such a serious matter...

Just in case you may not have an idea how the engines look like...here are some pictures of it...

And it doesn't help that our current PM Najib Razak claims that "there is no cover-up"...and that "the Defence Ministry and Royal Malaysia Air Force reported the theft to the police immediately after it was discovered"...

So..."no cover-up" + legal sales and purchase documents and shipping + 3 little green men and their green cards + 2 missing engines = ????????

You do the maths...

But wait...I think I am getting too caught up with these two engines...

I have another question for the RMAF (Royal Malaysian Air Force) and for our dearest PM as well...here goes...

~ There were originally six jet engines altogether...two were "accounted for" and labeled as missing...but what about the other FOUR jet engines??...Are they still safe in the warehouse??...or they have sold, but not brought to light?....

Knowing our current government and its reliability, I choose to believe in the later...I mean, four jet engines sold makes RM200 million/USD60 million more...and our nation's attention isn't on it!!

Is anyone else curious to know??...Hey, after all, they are taxpayer's money...

Erm, *grin*...I don't pay tax yet...so I am not feeling so much of the pinch...but I do feel for the people who does...

Note : Should you find me not putting up another post within this week, you might want to alert my mum and dad...I might be one of those unfortunate bloggers that are arrested for sedition over my opinion above...

0012 HRS, 2010

It was a full moon against the clear blue sky...colourful fireworks light up the night sky welcoming the new year...while the wind was quite still, cool breeze stroked my face as I was playing on a swing in a playground nearby...It feels good to be a kid once more...even if it was just mere 5 minutes...the firework display was on going around my neighbourhood...some, you know were lavishly spend...while others were kept simple and nice...

Kong-Ming lanterns (or sky lanterns as the Westerners would call it) were lit up and was set free to start its journey towards heaven...A traditional act of the Chinese following the story of the Three Kingdoms, these red silk lanterns held wishes of the desperate, the needy and the sincere-heart...praying for their loved-ones, or giving thanks for joyful events...others choose to believe that they are sending away their problems and worries in a dignified manner...either way, it was really beautiful watching them ascend towards the dark sky...completely serene and undisturbed...

Besides that, nothing seems to have changed much...My Utorrent is currently still at 3.6kB/s download...I don't expect it to go any faster than that these few days but that's alright...I am trying to start my year with more patience and perseverance...I have no intention of loosing my will to a dumb-arse Internet line, which I pay RM90/month for...which is quite expensive, even if you were to compare it to other countries...

The stupid credit card tax has not been waived...I still feel it is crackers to have to pay RM50 tax for a credit card...to fund a penniless government and their penthouse...politicians here are still dealing the racial cards...and the new electricity tariff will be announced soon...and on the first page of TheStar newspaper, in the excitement of greeting year 2010...there will be an increase price in sugar...surprises never ceases, does it?...

Malaysia has not snowed yet...still hot and humid as usual...*BAH!!*...Barbaric punk-like nerds still exist, in fact...they are still wading their way into an already crammed commuter...without complete disregard to the fact that there are people who needs to make an exit, in order that there would be room to accommodate them...I am still writing my year 2010 plans with scrape marks (an obvious error on my part, since I've dated them all as "2009" when it was suppose to be "2010")...my feet...my feet...has yet to grow an inch...still size 3, the last time I measured...*sigh*...

My heart is of course, slightly hopeful...a new year, a brand new start...and hopefully better politics...wait, did I hear one of my many cranial nerves says..."HAH, FAT CHANCE!!"?????

and Aloha to a brand new year...

“I don’t live in the past – it distracts from the now.”

~ Edna Mode of The Incredibles~

Never thought I'd be taking advice from a 3-feet snooty little dwarf of a world famous costume designer of the fiction world...but still...

SO, WELCOME 2010!!!

p/s : By default, you will be a better year than the one we currently habit....

And may it be a Happy and Prosperous Year for us all...*grin*...

Bidding Adieu to a brutal year of 2009...

I’m speaking only for myself here...of course, I am sure that there is at least 1 among the 6 billion people in this planet that may feel the same as I...

Professionally and personally, 2009 was one tough slog...of course, it was all part and parcel of growing up, I guess...been tested by fire, to see how long I could withstand...tested by the strong winds, to see if I could stand on my ground...melo-dramatic disasters that threatens to reveal my vulnerabilities and true-self...the soft-shelled crap that I am...

I’ve never been one to look back and re-hash all the shouldave dones, couldave dones, and wouldave dones...I mean, what’s the point in that?...Sure, there are regrets to live by...harsh decisions and consequences...but I'd take those anytime...rather than choosing to live on safe/hibernation mode...where all the grass is green, and the people grow wings, giving each other foot massages...I would thrive on adventure, and the dangers it has to offer...it keeps me on my toes...and it toughens me up...

For me, being an adult has changed my perspective in many things...one has so many commitments that he/she has to re-think his/her priorities...I for one, had to decide that some things can stay, others can wait...I can remember how annoying I was when I was a kid, insisting on things I knew I couldn't have...squeezing all the innocence out of me to manipulate my mum into giving in...I failed at most times, of course...Gawd, no wonder my mum had grey hair in her 20s!!...It was me!!!...

I've also learn to step with caution wherever I go...luckily for me, my conscience constantly reminds me that mama and papa isn't around to clean up my mess...so I'd better not mess up...one wrong step, and your shoe is covered with dung...sure, Dettol and soap always does the trick...but the stink always stays longer than it should...and good luck gettin' rid of that one!!...So far, no major disaster there...*touchwood*...

Bills and warning letters taught me how difficult it is for money to come by...I have made several investments in things worth while...(am paying in installment to my current official banker - my dad)...and it seems that I have not much savings after all...after I have deducted my monthly insurance, petrol, toll, gym fees, house rental, groceries, piano and wat-nots...I may have to re-work my savings scheme...I don't have any at the moment...will have to take note of that next year...

Have rekindled some old friendships...I used to feel guilty for not keeping in touch with friends...partially, I am always caught up with work...and as for my free time (which is quite rare), I chose to sleep in, and catch up with my ZZZZzzzzzz...but sure, that ain't an excuse...I've looked up some of my childhood friends...hopefully I'll do more of that next year...

If you asked my mum, she would tell you that I was never one with a business mind...my intentions still pure and true...in fact, I have given many of my music students extra hours outside of their lesson...without pay...UNTIL, I noticed that many parents never reciprocate...in fact, they start demanding for more!!...So, with a heavy heart...I had to put my foot down and turn some students away...I have lost students in that manner...but I guess on the long run, its only for the best...

Well, this is an overall review of my life spent over year 2009...I do hope things were better for you than it was for me...a tumultuous year, that's for sure...but with no regrets...I feel more prepared with what year 2010 has to offer...and hopefully I would have a much clearer head and make wise decisions...instead of many slips of this year...*grin*...

Have a great year ahead!!...

One to two months wait, madam...

So, the four working days have passed...and still no sign of cash return in sight...I checked my account yesterday...I even went to Public Bank (PB), where my ATM card was issued to enquire about it...

Told my sob story to Miss X...she was fortunately more sympathetic than the guard standing in the corner, but never mind...asked me to fill up the complaint form...sat down and explained the procedures for situations such as this...

By the way, my bank account was started back in my hometown in Ipoh, 270km from where I am now...

1. PB from Kuala Lumpur (KL), where I filed a complaint will fax my appeal to PB in Ipoh. (I was no idea that I had to transfer my bank account to Kuala Lumpur where I am staying now)
2. PB from Ipoh will check their systems and fax my appeal back to the PB Headquarters which is situated in KL.
3. PB Headquarters will then check THEIR systems, and fax my appeal back to PB Ipoh with a confirmation if my appeal was legal/not.
4. PB Ipoh will then fax letter of approval/not to PB KL, which PB KL in return will get in touch with me...

So, my appeal/complaint will be wired as such...

Lessajinomoto --> KL --> Ipoh --> KL --> Ipoh --> KL --> Lessajinomoto

And the whole process will be "one to two months wait, madam"...Oh, if only I can last that long...I pray I can last that long...my cash flow is drying up, and I have none to spare for the rainy season...

Talk about Luck!!...

An ode to 1st December 2009

Twas the week after Thanksgiving, I headed out for lunch.
My tummy was growling, mouth watering, so I set off for something to much.
Dried from cash, I stopped by an ATM machine,
It took so blardy long to register, I wanted to dose it with benzene,
There I typed my amount, A thousand Ringgit plus hundreds more,
Waited for another 5 minutes, my blood did boil, my legs were sore,
The ATM finally cracked into life *woohoo!!*, I hear yummy cash a-flippin' inside,
Lifted up a prayer of thanks only to find nothing comin' from its mouth open wide,
I waited a little longer, hoping that it was a mistake,
But an ink-less receipt shot out, stating that the money I did take...

A thousand Ringgit plus hundreds more,
May not seem much but keeps my month ashore,
Pay my rent, my petrol, my toll, my bills,
my food, my groceries, my gym, my ills.
I checked the other machines to confirm this nightmare
Praying that it was just another prank-ly scare
I dialed 1300-xxx-xxx with my heart in my mouth,
straining to listen for instructions, while my brain has gone south
Was told to wait for two hours before filing a report,
I gave her a little piece of my mind and many other sorts.

I went to the nearest CIMB bank to make my claim,
Vowing that if I don't get my money back, their good name I'll gladly defame
True that one may say that things like these do happen once in a while
But I having to suffer the consequences of their neglect just ain't my style
I filled in the form, details, trace number and all,
The counter lady flashed her Colgate Ad smile sayin, "It'll be FOUR workin' days before they call.
So that leaves me completely broke for one whole week,
with so many bills to settle my following days does look quite bleak,
Sat quietly at home, I did, not daring to move so much as an inch
I thought, If it was just a prank act, I'd let him/her go with just a pinch

Well, you'd thought that as long as one has credit cards, one will survive
I thought that too, till I reached the KFC drive,
"I'm sorry, mam but your credit card didn't get through", said the lad
Asking me to pay in cash, cash which I wish I have had
Having no choice but to call my personal hotline,
Rang my dad for help, I did...how many hundreds? I asked for nine (for the 'just in case's)

Returned back home, with no mood for food,
Marching towards my laptop, I wondered if this was only the prelude
My wonders were confirmed when my Firefox came crashing down
Some email replies unsaved, my face was slightly more than a frown
Several more tries and yet the same thing
Obvious isn't it, my luck is draining...

I clocked in my washing machine only to watch it go belly-up
Looks like I'll have to hand-wash, especially my skirt soiled with tomato ketchup
An order I made for a rubber stamp, simple as it may seem,
Upon my reaching the shop, a mistake I spotted and I released some steam
A positive point was that I was allowed for a carpet exchange, (the carpet I purchased didn't match my theme)
but seeing how my luck goes, I am not surprise if it catches fire first and goes up in flames...

And no, things didn't improve then...I refuse to dwell on them longer than I should...
It is times like these that makes me wonder...WHY ME???...
But then again...why NOT me???...

Bad Google...

Check out what comes on the screen when you type LESSAJINOMOTO on Google to look up...*not that anyone will bother, I know...I don't know why I did it myself...complete waste of data transfer and virtual space..*

Random Logics of A Perfect Mis-fit...cum Insomiac

I had "mothball-ed" Milo with milk, because of that...there are easier ways to die... ....*will update the next time*...
Posted by Lessajinomoto @ 12:56 PM ...
mislaidthoughts.blogspot.com/ - Cached - Similar

and this...

Random Logics of A Perfect Mis-fit...cum Insomiac: September 2008
...have asked Santa Clause for a bottle of acid cyanide this Christmas and just spare me the misery. ...
Posted by Lessajinomoto @ 12:06 PM 0 tonality(ies) ....
mislaidthoughts.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html - Similar

Of all sentences that Google chooses to pick from my post...they just made me look like a walking disaster laced with unstable physiological tendencies... BAH!!...

Can you imagine the look on my mum's face if she sees this...I imagine her rolling her eyes...giving the well-known "THAT'S my daughter, the idiot" look...

My Jinxie choronicles...

So, for company, I've got a 9 year old Electrolux schizophrenic washing machine (courtesy of the landlord who wouldn't take it back) that either wouldn't stop vomiting foam, or go into bouts of seizure whenever it feels like it...*man, try stopping an 80kg male from throwing a tantrum!!*...This is my first time handling a side-door washing machine...so excuse my ignorance...I am still learning...

Its base isn't stable, so it does a Red Indian dance about the dry kitchen while it does its spinning...Its label is so worn down, that I've got to go figure on my own, what all the knobs meant...and blardy hell, why so many knobs??...yeah, so I realized that this ancient relic was not born in the 21st century, but still...and the landlady wasn't much use...she was just as clueless as we are...testing the knobs as she wishes till they came out loose...and it doesn't help that this Electrolux model is so old, that it was impossible to google up online for its manual...

Now, on to Discovery Channel...here is what I've found out...

My washing machine is a female with a double PMS...and here is why...

• she is highly temperamental and unstable...despite all the buttons I push and knobs I turn...she remains silent till I coax her with some TLC...
• freezes without any apparent reason...in the middle of the washing process...
• And with maximum patience, it is possible to get it to perform trivial task...such as open the side door...
• sulks A LOT...at any given chance...

First of all, Jinxie...(yeah, I've given it a name...not that I am very fond of it...but we have developed a love-hate relationship along the way, y'know)...Jinxie would not start...I've checked the connections, checked the plugs...double checked it again...well, seeing how absent minded I could get at times...Power was switched on...but it just wouldn't get going!!...

Man, I never thought I'd say this, but guys really do have a magic touch!!...I've pushed every button I can see...restarted Jinxie...and nil...nothing happens...my boyfriend comes along, ejects Jinxie's side door open...closes it again...and voila!!...Water gushes out from the pipe, brilliantly...and churns like a baby...His magic touch doesn't stop with Jinxie...there was the water heater, computer printer, etc...but I will leave those for a next post...

So, Jinxie came back to live...not knowing very well how Jinxie functions, I allowed it to wash overnight, assuming that it would be ready for drying the next day...late next morning, after putting on the kettle boiler, I headed towards Jinxie and ejected the door...WHOOSH!!!!...water spills onto the floor and my dry kitchen was now looking more like a war zone...soapy water filled, drenched wet clothes, a really pissed off Lessajinomoto...and a laughing hyena of a boyfriend...somehow, Jinxie missed the spinning process...and vomited on me...I blame those stupid knobs...

At that time, I couldn't help but think...if there is a Man up there...he hates me... *sigh*

I've also learned that Jinxie comes with a heated water and spinning services too...altogether a brilliant idea...except that it consumes a lot of electricity...and...well, I've managed to live with cold water and no extra services....no point for all these luxury...so I plan on turning it off...now, if only I can find the "heater" button/wire so that I can turn/cut it off...

In summary, here are a couple of things I have come to know about handy-work and old houses...

1. Women and hardware rarely get along with one another...Leave those jobs for real men...
2. Don't be a smart alec and pour more into the kettle boiler, than it can take...chances are, it will take revenge on you...and you end up with the mess...
3. Women in general have butter fingers when it comes to nails and hammer...I've stopped counting how many nails I've bent...and how many times I've aimed at my thumb...
4. Never ever get too fancy lights...you'll have a helluva time just putting the pieces together...
5. Never overdose your cupboards with mothballs...I had "mothball-ed" Milo with milk, because of that...there are easier ways to die...
6. ....*will update the next time*...
   

Random Updates...

Jeez...its almost one month since I've updated this blog...its been lacking so much attention, I think it needs an overhaul...hmmm...will get to it soon...

Anyway, just mere updates since I've abandoned this blog till now...I'll write about them in detail soon, and try to link them up as well...

• my cousin Jo has left for Japan to be with her husband who is studying there...I spent my short Raya holidays with her...doing lots of catching up...and just bonding...it will be a long time before I see her again...
• in the process of setting up my personal music studio...A simpleton like me, never knew how much work it required...sorting out my finance, renting a house, furniture shopping, house designing...good, its keeps me real busy and occupied...
• learned a lot about the bits and pieces about house renting...I've never really rented a house before...always been renting rooms and bunking with my friends...it was quite a hassle...while it did make me feel more "adult"-ish, I was relieved and happy that its over and done with...
• I AM FINALLY INSURED!!!!...Life, Clinical Illness, Personal Accident...the whole hullabaloo...Man, the first time I invest in something, which I can never see a return...ah, well...the beneficiary will benefit from it of course...I'll be too dead underground to enjoy it by then!!...
• written my first cheque...well, second actually...but it was the first time I've written a cheque for such a large sum, my hand was literally shaking!!!...Shaking because I am afraid I may make mistakes...which if I do, I'd have to cancel it off and start a new cheque...that cost me 35 cents...yeah, so I am a cheap-skate...I never claimed I wasn't...but hey, if you don't earn that much, don't have savings that much, and having other commitments...writing a cheque for an amount close to RM5000, you'd be scared too...
• arranged two songs for the concert that I am preparing my students for...its been playing in my mind for three months now...I finally got my arse down, and wrote down the score to its details...hehe, am quite satisfied with it, actually...surprised too...I have great love for counterpoints, and listening to my friends (colleagues) play my arrangement was fulfilling...ah, well...bits and pieces of mistakes, of course...but who cares??...its done!!!...
• went shopping...literally...it may mean nothing to you, but if you know me well enough, you'll know that I'd rather get swine flu than shop...I hate all the walking around, and the little indecisiveness in me...but just a few days ago, I shopped like crazy...had to get all the necessities for the house that I am renting...gosh, I've used my credit card so many times, I lost count!!...that too...has never happened before...
• decided to delay my car purchase...I figured...with my music studio up and coming, I'd rather place my investment there instead of paying for something that I want, but do not need...besides, my beloved Toyota has just got an overhaul, and its now a beauty...ride is comfortable, suspension was perfect, and all that jazz...hehe...sorry, bro!!...I knew you had high hopes getting my car...*grin*...I think I will need it a little longer...half a year more...or maybe longer...hehe...keep your fingers crossed!!...
• learned that my dad speaks dual messages...he is helping me out financially with my studio...backing me till I can stand on my own feet...so he says, "Girl, there are many things you can't rush...you've got to let time tell...now, we take it one step at a time"...when I was thinking about the studio, and how it should go...and in that SAME line, he will add..."Girl, you'd better get things going...the minute we've rented the house, the expense starts rolling...time lost is money gone"...??????...*roll eyes*...you've got to excuse me...its my first time thinking in business language...and man, have I got tonnes to learn!!...
• am in the process of planning a small recital for myself...sort of like a self-promotion...I'd thought it would be a good idea, since it will keep me on my toes musically...and it will be a step closer to getting rid of stage-fright...am also thinking of inviting my students to play along with me...will sleep on it tonight...
• *sigh*...Malaysia is so screwed up politically, it has left me dry and devoid of all hope...so if you happen to find that I don't write nor comment on some issues about Malaysia...you'll know why...besides, I think its time I write about something positive that I feel about my country...but at the moment, besides the vast variety of food and culture...there is nothing to hope for as yet...

well, that's all I can remember for now...I won't have an internet line so soon, now that I've shifting...hehe...lets see if I can live through that!!...*grin*...

Clowns Part 2 : Or maybe not...

I made it!!!...I sat through the whole film of IT...from the start till the end!!...Okay, okay...so I broke the film into a couple of sections...took a couple of breaks...shuddered just a little...what is the big deal??...Actually, it wasn't too bad when I watched it the second time...hehe...I knew when those gory parts were coming...so I just closed my eyes for those scenes, or just pretended to need to message someone on my phone...

Tim Curry's portrayal of a clown is still first class, I think...the monsters...ah, well...it was a show made in the late 1980's...one couldn't compare to the graphic effects of the current years...nor can it expect much...If I had watched this movie for the first time in my 20s, I would have rolled my eyes, skipped those boring scenes...and just move to those juicy, bloody ones...(I contradict myself, I know)...yawn...and maybe laugh at those stiff monsters...But if a child were to see it, I can understand how traumatizing it could be...In fact, I'd realized that it wasn't the film that scared me anymore...but the image of Pennywise that is screwing with my mind!!...I did have slight difficulty sleeping that night...*sheepish grin*...

Well, I don't think I am all that afraid of clowns anymore...though I can't guarantee that I won't cringe at the sight of one...my knees may buckle a bit, my heartbeat race a little...that's about it, I think...

And just as I thought I had conquered clowns at last...someone in the house changed my computer wallpaper (without me knowing...I was bathing then)...clicked on my Firefox to hide the image...so that in all my sleepiness...I closed my Firefox...and saw this...

I'll leave it to you to decide what happened after that...and the fate of that someone...the time then was 12:45am...in the still of the night...

Clowns Part 1 : I might just make it!!!...

Note : Skip to the last paragraph if you happen to be short of time...or uninterested...

The white painted "jolly" expression, marred by blood-red eyes...the fixed smiling face, that makes you just a tad more than apprehensive...those mega huge dark red boots...the crude and colourful baggy clothes with elastic suspenders...The offensively coloured hair...they were once thought as amusing characters who brings laughter to people's live...revealing to them a whole new world of magic and entertainment...More often than never, now they seem to be anything but that...well, in the movies, at least...

I've never hidden the fact that I always had a fear of clowns since childhood...its called "coulrophobia"...man, I didn't know it was so common, that they actually have a term for it!!...I just found out online a few days back...I never was scared in the rigid-with-shock-and-panic kind of way...more of a case of the heebie-jeebies...seeing a particularly malevolent sight of a clown would cause my stomach to come undone...and I will avoid anyone and everyone dressed as a clown...be it the jolly old one down the street...

People may ask...why the extreme??...Let me make it absolutely clear...that I am now all grown up...and have discarded beliefs about Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, clowns in the sewer, Mr. Sandman and all that jazz...even before I hit puberty...I am aware that there never were Santa's little helper elf that make tiny toys, and a Santa that knows if I were naughty and nice...There weren't any Tinker Bell's who was going to place a 50 cent coin under my pillow...I realized that for myself after my 2nd attempt of placing my baby tooth before going to bed...

St. Francis of Assisi once said..."No one is to be called an enemy...no one does your harm...you have no enemy except yourself."

I find that quite true...and applicable to every situation even for this...It isn't so much of a clowns' act that I fear...more of the mental image in my head that I am trying to escape from...vision of clowns that return to haunt my subconscious...that paralyzes me...of course, my imagination doesn't help...and has a tenancy to over-exaggerate...

My first encounter of this clown conundrum was thanks to Stephen King whose novel IT and the subsequent TV series about Pennywise, a sewer-dwelling, child-eating clown...It was in the early 1990s...when I have just finished the novel (I was about 9-10 years of age, I think...)...and was really excited when I saw in the newspaper that IT was to be screened on TV...the novel gave me the creeps...and being a young-blooded soul, I was eager to watch the show...and to be "pumped with the adrenaline rush"...after all, it was the first time I had permission to stay up...and, it was my first horror movie...

Nothing prepared me for the goriness of it all, though...That novel still scares the hell out of me...blardy thing...and I try to avoid it at all cost...For weeks after that, I felt the need to check under my bed before I went to sleep...look down the sink cautiously as I brush my teeth...leave the dirty dishes till the last minute...till it could wait no more...Everytime I think 'clown'...I see Tim Curry's portrayal of Pennywise...the sheer horror that inspired in me, even at my age now...my hair stands...

So after all this nonsensical chatter...I am sure you would be asking...what am I doing to overcome it??...well, first of all, I have just finished downloading the TV show It (1990)...*my sanity here is questionable...I won't deny it*...I am going to watch it once more...and see where and which scene exactly that hits my nerve...maybe if I know and determine where I first got scared out of my wits...I'll know that there isn't much to be fearful of in the first place...save me thousand of dollars in therapy, wouldn't you agree??...hell, now that I am seeing it with adult eyes, I might just laugh through it all!!...Note: MIGHT...

Krusty the Clown (from Simpsons) may be the ONLY clown that I can look at, without a cringe...at many times, it help tame the dark images that toys with me...for a short while...but still...

Black Sun...

What would you do, if you had a really, really bad day...and everything that you do just coincidentally goes wrong??...

a) go through a self destructive mode...splurge yourself with money that you don't have...ram your car on someone's gate...hoping that the other party will have a worse day than yours...shove all your stationery on the floor...your life is messed up...doesn't make a difference if your room should look the same...

b) shut everyone out for a while...and throw yourself a self-pity party...have some booze and potato chips...and plant yourself in front of the telly till your butt grow fungus...

c)...(I'll add when I can think of one)...

At the moment, I am doing option B (without the booze and chips...yet), while practicing self-control to resist from opting for option A...

Hope you've had a better day than mine...*sheepish grin*...

Travel : Phuket Lesson 101

When one touches down on Phuket International Airport, he would know that he will be heading for the people...people come here for two reasons :

1. the Thai girls...somehow prostitution here is legal...sadly this is where the money is for them at the moment...'tourist' will spend a month or two there...for good company...and some other things...

2. to enjoy what the beaches and the sea have to offer...beautiful corals, great ski-ing place...kayaking, canoeing among many other activities...and last but not least, a heart melting sunset...

For those opting for option #1, they are usually sun-bathing in the morning...and back in the hotel by sun down...for more intimate activities...

As for option #2, we wake up early in the morning...have a hearty breakfast, and head for the speed boat which will bring us to our destinations...

Here is Lesson 101 : Before you jump down, learn how to swim...

If you don't fancy swimming, and yet would still like to look at some corals...

Here is Lesson 101.1 for you : Before you jump down, learn to put on a life jacket...properly...or ask the locals to do so for you...

I was on my first trip to Phi Phi Island, where the activity of the day was snorkeling, swim, snorkeling...tonnes of corals to explore...and so little time...the speed boat I was in, had about 30 people in it...2 families from Hong Kong, one from Sweden, another from Australia, 2 groups from M'sia (including us) and a few singles...

Our first drop off was at Maya Bay...for snorkeling...I being too excited, I think...was the first few to jump off...goggles only, and no life jacket...(yes, I am aware of the dangers...but I wanted to touch the sea corals, and the life jacket was restricting...)...

At first, I did have some problems keeping afloat...the current was strong, and there was the sea temperature to adjust too...so I swam near to the back of the boat, where there was a rope...and I held firmly to it, while taking a breather...

When all of a sudden, there was this 300 megaton hippo grabbed me on my shoulders and pulled me under...Caught by surprise, I had a few gulps of sea water, before I struggled to reach the surface once more...I looked out for the source...and, would you believe it...one fat dude (from the Hong Kee group)...had just jumped into the water...and was also struggling to float!!..the difference was...he does not know how to swim...I understood that he was fighting for his survival...but, crap...need he hang on to a small shrimp like me??...btw, he did have a life jacket...

The local guide tried to pull him up...somehow he slipped once more...and dragged me down again...TWO-ZERO...I could not swim away in time...and besides, the under sea current was pulling me towards his direction...and yes, I had a few more gulps of sea-water...blardy hell...and this time, I wasn't in the mood to be nice...

True, it may just be my luck, that I happened to be in the right place at the wrong time...I can accept that gracefully...but what pissed me off...was the fact that when the locals got him back on the boat, he turned to the tour guide, and scolded her for life jacket malfunction!!!...I was already up on the boat, watching this scene (I quickly climbed up after him, as I was tired after the struggle)...and it was obvious that he didn't buckle the strap between his legs...which not surprisingly, didn't keep him afloat...also, erm...there wasn't any life jacket that fitted him...he was WAY too big....

Not only had he the audicity to scold the tour guide in front of us, tourists...he was so self-absorbed that he didn't apologize to me!!...and yes, I was expecting an apology...why not??...true, it was an accident...and I was an innocent bystander who got involved...but still, I would expect some courtesy...some sort of an apology for inconvenience or rather...or at least, a little concern to see if I am alright or not...

But Nooooo....he never went down...and spend the rest of the trip (till the next stop, at least)...being his egoistic self, and proclaiming to his family/friends...how he struggled...and how he nearly drowned...and no thanks to the locals for pulling him up just in time...

And with all the salt water I drank...I really wanted to puke...literally...

So, learn to swim...if not, learn to put on a life jacket...properly...its for your own safety, after all...

Travel : On things I've learned while in Phuket...

Just a few reminders for myself just so I don't repeat my mistakes :

• Shopping in Phuket isn't for the faint-hearted...Conserve your energy to barter, barter, barter...if you're not up to it (like me)...walk away...window shop, and don't hope for too much...
• Driving in Phuket or Thailand for that matter...is a dead No-No...You've got to be resolute, your senses sharpened...bold...and a jerk, at times...when it comes to confronting traffic...You can't be all four, and read the map at the same time...There are tonnes of motorcycles here...and there is no law that says you are required to wear a helmet...also, streets aren't systematic there...just as you thought you're in a one way street...you see a car heading towards you from an opposite direction...btw, the car/motorcycle that you rent there is NEVER insured...so damages are on you...
  
• Gear yourself with motion sickness pills...you'd never know when you need one...be it in one of the speed boat trips in choppy waves, or in the midst of one of the twisted roads of Phuket...or in an air-plane...it'll come in handy...if not for you...your loved one...
  
• Red flags errected in the middle of the beach = strong waves, keep away!!...
• Go for Thai massages BEFORE joining those crazy sun-stroke activities...sun-burnt skin and Thai massages are never good combination...its heart wretchingly PAINFUL!!!...man, you've got to be there to know it...
  
• When hiring a driver/taxi/Tuk-Tuk...tell them you want to see beautiful sceneries and take pictures...not go shopping...especially in destined tourist shopping centres...insist on it...
• Swiss army knifes aren't allowed on board the plane...neither are empty shell bullets-made-into-necklace...
  
• Tiger shows...are actually lady-boys display...and other sexual fancy stuff...not to be taken literally...and they are spelled as "Thai-Girl" shows...not "Ti-Ger" shows...bleh...when I heard it the first time, I thought it would be wild Bali and Caspian tigers...heesh...gave me a thrill of the moment...all for nothin'...
  
• When in doubt, its ALWAYS a dude...that is a tip for guys out there...if you happen to be checkin' out some hot babes...and you come across one, that somehow looks slightly off the page...chances are you're lookin' at a brother...though there was ONE time, when I was wrong...
• Make friends with a local...they are extremely friendly...and they will willingly help you buy the stuff that you want...at a local price too...so you don't get ripped off that much...they will also advice you on which shop to visit or not...trust the locals to know their market...
• Remove footwear, when you approach a massage parlor...or dropping by a shop...locals always close an eye when it comes to custom such as these...but I can see that they appreciate it when they sense we know our place...and keep our shoes out of their business premises...of course, this does not apply to street vendors...
• Geographically, Phuket is situated on the west side of the shore of Thailand...so the sunset rules there...don't waste time waking up early for the sunrise...you won't get any, you nimwit!!...like...DUH!!!
• When ordering food, always order ala carte...ordering singles will come to R350 Baht per person (equivalent to RM35)...while ala carte (all seafood, mind you) will only cost R130 Baht per person at maximum (RM13) after dividing the cost among friends...
  

Travel : Phuket Island I.M.Os

Ah, I've just returned from the land of the free and booze...hehe...It was a 9 days trip altogether...though tiring (I had to return to work 10 hours after touch-down)...but all worth it...I never gave a single thought about work...didn't have a care in the world if my students passed their exam or not...Now that I am back, I am back to worrying again...the obsessed person that I am...

Am not going to go through every itty gritty detail about my trip e.g how I kept getting confused about the currency exchange...so much so, the locals there gave me 'that look'...and how I could not figure out their food menu...and all that jazz...

[Note : if you aren't into long post...scroll all the way to the bottom for the 'summary'...]

Place...
I stayed in Patong Beach...one of the many beaches of Phuket...the place was obviously built for tourist...with stalls on every corner of the street...This were one of many places that were badly affected when the Tsunami of 2004 came raging towards them...5 years later (yr 2009)...the place have been rebuilt...everything has been restored and they are back in business...

The waves are simply amazing!!...unlike the weak ones found in Batu Feringghi beach in Penang, or Port Dickson in Seremban...the winds in Phuket are strong...and it is just awesome to see two waves come together to make a great splash!!!...

One thing that stood out, as I looked around the area...was the scary electrical wires that were intertwined...like a Rastafari hair-do!!...Just check it out...man, I've never seen so many wires connected to a single pole in my life...if there were an accident, and one of the electrical poles got shot-circuited *touches wood*...the whole Patong Beach would suffer a black out for sure...


Food...
Marvelous!!...what can I say...Mamak tom yam soup in M'sia taste quite bland now...not as thick and rich in texture, as the one in Thailand...not to mention its spiciness too...I would have preferred it with less salt and MSG...but ah, it will do...tonnes of food available all night long, which suits my living style...*winks*...I am a big fan of Thai food...having visit many Thai restaurant in Kuala Lumpur...so I knew my way around the food stalls here...and had a clear idea of what I wanted...and oh...the mango sticky rice!!...Can't be missed...the glutinous rice here was much sweeter...toys with my taste buds...it will be a long time before I would succumb to tasteless, watery, pathetic tom yam soups in the mamak, that's for sure...prices are quite reasonable too...as long as you stay off the main road...and order ala carte...main dishes shared among friends, and a plate of rice for yourself...saves you $, and closes friendship ties...*grin*...

People...
Quite friendly...with a ready smile at all times...and always polite...even when conversing in their language...it almost sounds like a professor lecturing you so gently it lulls you to sleep...Their English is quite limited, though...just enough to get around their business...not quite enough to spark a conversation...

Not to forget...the street vendors can be quite a shark when it comes to quoting a price, though...I saw some thongs that were quite pretty and nicely decorated...factory-made, obviously...but the cutting was neat, and it fitted me perfectly...when I asked this man, Bangladeshi if I had a guess...how much it would cost me...he quoted me R600 Baht!!!...that is equivalent to RM60 in Malaysia!!...Daylight robbery, I tell ya...why, thongs/slippers at a night market in Kuala Lumpur would cost me only RM10....So I walked away...only for that same guy, to grab me in the arm...and give me another price...R350 Baht...for the same thong, I was once so keen on...

Wrong move, buddy...haha...man, this is starting to feel like a game of chess!!...to see who gets the better of whom...I was then absolutely convinced that he saw us tourist like squealing pigs being led to the slaughter house...so I refused...for 3 reasons...One: I hate bargaining...though I'd love bargains...and no, I am not confused at all...I hate negotiation of these sort...but I love price-drop sales...Two: I felt that man has no business ethics at all...and I am turned off by that...anyone would...I mean, sure, he needed to put food on the table, but I as a customer would like to be sure I got my money worth as well...wouldn't you agree?...Three: I am no shopacholic, and I can do with/without the thongs...so that was that...

One day trips...
Visited Phi Phi islands, and James Bond island...it was rainy season, so the sun was out only in the morning...and by afternoon, cool showers followed...It went quite well...and we got it at a very good price, I think...we paid about R1000 Baht for each trip...which is equivalent to RM100 in Malaysia...there was this nice lady agent who saw to it that we were well taken care of...I could see that she didn't take advantage of us as many other agents would...a friend we got to know there, also a tourist from Japan...paid R1700 Baht for the same trip that we went...

Travelling on a speed boat was quite a pain in the arse (LITERALLY!!)...especially when the seas are quite rough, during the rainy season...I'd find myself in mid-air...close my eyes, hold my breath and embrace myself for th-....owwww, shit...my butt feels sore and numb...ah, could have been worse...thank you, God...for my tonnes of fat!!...For once, I didn't mind that I wasn't skin and bones...

And oh...to anyone who plans to go on day trips such as these...do remember to wear casual e.g, three quarter pants, shirt, swim-suit, etc...it doesn't make sense to come in a beautiful, sexy dress with exposed lingerie, thick make-up and mascara...and lingering perfume...pay R1700 Baht for trip, and not join in any of the activities...and to add insult to injury...squeal at any drop of water that hits you!!...

Another note...there is one thing that I fail to understand, nor show compassion for...is why there are some people who will complain and scream bloody Mary, whenever a slight shower befalls upon them (due to the breaking current of a wave...or someone wet passing by them...or a drizzle) while on the speedboat...and yet, when we reach one of our stop points, they will eagerly jump off the boat, into the sea...and happily bobbed around with a life jacket as the sea current brings them...I mean, when we sign up for this trip, or even in any activity near a beach, we would already expect to get wet, wouldn't we??...then why all the fuss before??...so excuse me, for sneering...and not offering a helping hand...until I can fully comprehend, only then can I sincerely sympathize and hand over my towel...otherwise, heesh...

Conclusion...
So, would I go back to Phuket again?...Yes, definitely...it ain't a shopping paradise, but that's alright...I am no shopping diva either...but yes, because I was so busy visiting that outskirt islands off shore of Phuket, I forgot to visit Phuket itself!!...so I missed Karon beach, Kata Beach, Phuket town...well, not really...I used my last day to drive through all of them...and spent 30 minutes in each place...but that is hardly sufficient...

Scenery was beautiful and breath taking...though it was cloudy, so we couldn't see any sunset...wasn't good time for the camera...can't imagine how it would look like on a good weather!!...plus...the cost is cheap...provided you stay off the tourist shopping area...back-pack and stay in budget hotels...my stay only cost me RM35 per night...comfortable bed, and good service!!...

Motto for new music graduants...

A couple of months late : pay attention and learn from my mistakes...I've broken nearly all of the following...*sheepish grin*...So I'd thought I could save you guys the trouble...this applies to students of any music profession...

• If you're going to be stupid, you've got to be tough (TM)...Happens to everybody, I'm sure...its just that people like me would need more "stupid-time" than others...
• Don't lie...to anyone...even to your students...kids these days are smart as hell...and they can smell your 'poo' a mile away...
• Be nice as you can...If you can't be nice, be silent...If you can't be silent, walk away for a while and count to ten...Never switch to strangle mode...After a tiring 12 hour work shift, 6 days a week...all you have left is your auto-pilot and your self-control...Doesn't pay to lose either one.
  
• Always answer your phone...you will never know that a very much needed gig is just a pick-up call away...though I must urge you to put your foot down, should you find clients/students calling you at 12am "just to chat"!!...
• Don't take criticism personally...if you must, step aside and do an honest self-evaluation of yourself...some critics does hold water...others, are just plain words from brainless morons who can't back up their statements...
• NEVER ASSUME!!!!...
• Don't assume that just because you've explained something, that the other party understands...Don't assume that just because you've said something several times, the other party remembers...Chances are, they will conveniently forget, so you will have to explain again...
• If you have trouble with with your student/client/projects...don't give up...Keep trying...the breakthrough will come, but you have to keep trying...
• Start planning when to take leave at the beginning of the year...or you never will...
• Fake it till you can make it...you can't put off not talking to parents, apologizing for errors, PERFORMING on stage..."Being fearful" is gonna be a helluva lifelong recurring theme...[Note : I learnt this from my dad..]
  
• Appreciate your fellow colleagues and college friends, they are your lifeline, music support, last minute band on call, food delivery, complaining partners and counselors...And they are the ONLY people who will know EXACTLY how you feel because they're going through it too...
• Lastly, enjoy a great time ahead!!...Nothing beats the thought of one having the privilege to make music everyday...learn music everyday...and work with music everyday!!...

Ah...such bliss...yet so much heartache...